Canon USA announces Pixma Pro-1 12-ink A3+ printer

Canon USA has announced the Pixma Pro-1 printer, first unveiled by Canon Europe earlier this week. The 12-ink A3+ printer can produce a 13" x 19" standard quality print in 4 minutes, 20 seconds. The Pixma Pro-1 will sell for around the company's estimated selling price of $999.99. (Canon Europe's MSRP is £799/€899)

A New Legend in Imaging Featuring a New 12 Ink System, New FINE Print Head and Chroma Optimizer

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., October 26, 2011 – Taking print quality and accuracy to a whole new level, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the launch of the PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet Printer. Professional photographers can be confident that the final output from this new printer will match the photographic vision captured from their camera. Newly developed for this printer is a 12-ink system, five of which are monochrome, along with a new FINE Print Head to help deliver consistent, superb results that professional photographers demand.

“Canon is proud to be one of the only companies to offer professionals a complete input to output photographic ecosystem,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies and Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “The recent introduction of the EOS-1D X DSLR camera and now the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer, further solidifies Canon’s commitment to providing professionals with the necessary equipment in order to help them produce the highest-level possible in image quality.”

The Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet Printer features a completely new ink system to help professionals achieve gallery-quality results. This new system features 12 inks (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Red, Photo Cyan, Photo Magenta, Photo Black, Matte Black, Gray, Dark Gray, Light Gray and Chroma Optimizer) which help to increase the color gamut in all directions when compared to other similar models currently in the market. Additionally, skin-tone reproduction has been improved to provide a more natural look, eliminating the magenta cast occasionally found when printing portraits.

Seeing is Believing

Many professional photographers judge the overall effectiveness and ability of an inkjet printer based upon the output for a black-and-white image. To achieve the desired results for a deeper, richer, truer black creation, the engineers of the Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet Printer have incorporated five monochrome inks into the ink system. Utilizing the Photo Black, Matte Black, Gray, Dark Gray and Light Gray inks, photographers will experience smooth gradations, suppressed graininess and a reduction in the bronzing and metamerism phenomenon which shows a metallic luster such as iridescence due to the colors in reflected light. The Light Gray ink is especially effective in helping to suppress the grain in highlights. The gray monochrome inks are useful in creating a neutral print, allowing for improved accuracy to the way the image was originally captured helping to reduce the need for extensive editing.

As part of the overall ink system, a Chroma Optimizer has been included to aid in the accuracy and quality of prints. In addition to increasing the color gamut, the Chroma Optimizer further increases the black density when printing on glossy media types for a deeper, darker black. After the ink is laid down on the media, the printer applies the Chroma Optimizer to help eliminate the bumps between droplets that at times can reflect light irregularly, resulting in a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing print. Another important facet of printing is the overall lifespan of the print. Based upon independent testing conducted by Wilhelm Imaging Research, the expected light fastness of a print using the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer with Canon’s semi-gloss media is approximately 70 years1.

For the first time in a Canon PIXMA Professional Printer, the PIXMA PRO-1 Photo Printer will feature a tubular ink delivery system, with the inks housed on the sides of the printer, helping to improve the print speed when compared to existing PIXMA Pro models. With this new system, the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer can produce a 13-inch x 19-inch sized print in approximately four minutes and 20 seconds2 on Canon Photo Paper Pro Platinum, helping to increase the productivity in any photography studio. The printer also features larger ink tanks than any other PIXMA Pro printer model to date. When compared to the tanks used by existing models, these new ink tanks are 2.5 times larger. This incredible increase can decrease the amount of time users have to interact with the printer and replace the ink tanks.

To help improve the overall efficiency and workflow of the printer, an intuitive paper feed has been included with a dual paper path on the top rear of the printer for semi-gloss and glossy media and a manual paper feed on the back for fine art media. This feeding system will help to ensure paper is initially fed correctly thus eliminating skewed prints which results in wasted ink, paper and more importantly time. For the first time on a Canon PIXMA Pro printer, the PIXMA PRO-1 Printer is also networkable via an Ethernet connection allowing multiple users the ability to print to one machine. For educational institutions this feature is key so each student will be able to showcase their work in a high-quality fashion. Also, photo studios will find this especially useful when working to complete projects in a timely manner without sacrificing image quality.

Canon has also worked with the leading paper companies in the industry to create ICC Profiles designed to help users to get the best possible results from their prints. At launch a total of 26 ICC Profiles are available for users of Hahnemuhle, Ilford, Moab and several other paper types. For more information on the exact paper names, please visit: www.usa.canon.com/pixmapro.

An added benefit to those who purchase the Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet printer is for the first time, this product can be used to qualify toward a Canon Professional Services (CPS) membership. For individual full-time working imaging professionals who use Canon equipment, the CPS program offers a range of benefits. These benefits can include (depending on membership level) professional phone and e-mail support, expedited and discounted service and repairs, service loaners, onsite support at select events and shows, plus discounts on Canon Live Learning workshops and more. For more information on the program, including eligibility requirements and benefits, please visit www.usa.canon.com/cps.

The Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet Printer will have an estimated selling price of $999.993.

Try My Photo

The Canon PIXMA PRO-1 Professional Inkjet printer will also be a part of Canon U.S.A.’s “Try My Photo” program4. With this program, consumers in the United States have the opportunity to submit an eligible digital image of their choice to be printed on a select Canon printer to demonstrate Canon’s high-quality printing capabilities and help participants make a more educated decision when purchasing a printer. Along with the image, consumers who participate in this program can receive additional product information. To learn more please visit: www.trymyphoto.com/pro

1 Testing done by Wilhelm Imaging Research. Prints framed under glass (with 5mm glass).
2 Photo print speed is based on the default setting using ISO/JIS-SCID N2. Print speed may vary depending on system configuration, interface, software, document complexity, print mode, page coverage, type of paper used etc.
3 Pricing subject to change at any time. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
4 Offer available to legal residents of the United States and Washington, D.C. only. Limit one sample print per printer per household. Additional conditions and restrictions apply; see trymyphoto.com/termsandconditions.

Comments

I am happy with photolab prints quality. What more would anyone want...?

Here are the advantages of sending out your photos to the lab over buying an pro printer

1. no expensive ink to buy2. no additional space taken3. cheaper cost to print4. send your order online and pick up when going shopping5. no initial investment6. no repairs and maintenance costs7. no obsolescence8. save time and money

no thank you Canon, I had a pleasure of buying an Epson R2400 for about $1200, ended up selling it for $200. It was way too expensive to run over the cost of prints from my lab with inferior quality to my lab prints - not worth the effort. With 12 ink cartridge only the rich people with lots of time will be silly enough to buy this bulky piece of equipment.

I'm sure your photolab is running with a good system, as not every photolab is good. The point being made of owning a printer is to get the exact quality you are after. Detail, sharpness and color vary in a wetlab machine. I know, I've worked in one using Noritsu machines. No photolab can get results equivalent to what these can produce. The benefit of using these printers is being capable of using multiple media types. Any professional who prints extensively would know that different media types can generate a higher revenue as a "specialty print."I guess it's not for everyone. As the printer is not aimed for everyone. Thanks for your opinion though, made me share mine.

Looks like you're talking about $.80/ml for ink on this printer. If you get the 4900, it's $1100 for a full set if ink but the cartridges are 200ml as opposed to 35ml on this printer. Therefore, we're talking about $.50/ml for ink. If you do a lot of printing, the better printers are a no brainer but this one is a reasonable middle ground for the serious hobbyest.

Probably an excellent unit, but I am increasing bothered when I see prices rounded to the nearest 99: to me it implies the actual cost of production plus margin was lower. It could well have been higher of course, so I may well be wrong.

If they are not careful, they will wear out number nine, the Beatles nearly did.

"Some very happy news for Canon printer fans: We asked about the impact of the Thai flooding on Canon's printer manufacturing and whether it might impact availability of this exciting new model. The answer was in several parts:

Printers destined for the US are already on boats or already landed in the US, so there'll be no short-term availability problem.

Canon has for some time been constructing a new printer plant in Thailand much further to the north, at a considerably higher elevation. This new plant has just come online, so all production can be transferred from the flooded plant to the new one very quickly.

Two other major Canon printer plants are located in Vietnam, so have been unaffected by the recent Thai catastrophe."

I have a 9500 Mk II - love the output, but hate the size of the cartridges. I'm constantly near depletion levels with it. To me, that fact alone is worth the price of admission! Now all I have to do is come up with $999.99. (After I read some reviews...)

Welcome competition to Epson printers. But one has to wonder if photo development is reaching its apex. One new product after another is "1." Nikon 1, Sigma SD-1, when previous SLR was SD-15, the new Canon EOS 1D-X SLR, PIXMA PRO-1, Samsung EX1, Fuji X10, 100, getting silly.

I had a feeling Canon would introduce a new professional printer as they are heavily discounting and offering rebates on the Pro9000. When I bought a 5D Mk II a few days ago, I got an offer of a really substantial rebate for the Pro9000. This new one looks much smaller, and significantly better.